First Manassas (Bull Run)

For the first time on the holiday, Steve experienced Truck
Envy at the visitor centre

"The two armies met in battle on the morning of
July 21, 1861, along the banks of a small stream known as Bull Run. In a
ten-hour contest, the green, inexperienced troops of both sides bravely fought
and held their ground. By late afternoon, however, the federal troops, driven
from the battlefield along with many of the sightseers, were in retreat. Hope of
a quick and easy victory was a casualty of the day, along with almost 5,000
members from both armies and bystanders. Daylight faded from the once peaceful
fields, bringing to an end not only the first major confrontation of the Civil
War, but also the romantic way in which the majority of Americans had viewed the
coming conflict."

This line of trees is where the Rebs rallied - on the reverse
slope, which the union troops swept over to face a barrage of fire

"The field officers of the more than 2,000 routed
men of the commands of Evans and Bee, among whom Federal shot and shell from the
batteries of Griffin and Ricketts were raining, were making desperate efforts to
rally their men and reorganize them, but to no purpose, although Johnston and
Beauregard both joined in the effort. Strong masses of Federal infantry were
rapidly advancing, and disaster seemed imminent, when the heroic Bee, exhausted
in his fruitless effort to rally his men, rode up to Jackson, who was steadily
holding his brigade in a full fronting position, notwithstanding the approaching
attack of the enemy, the artillery fire that was thinning his ranks, and the
nearby confusion, and cried out in a tone of despair: "General, they are
beating us back!" The reply came, prompt and curt, but calm, "Then we
will give them the bayonet." "

Artillery positioned to fire at the union positions from
the

Wikipedia again

The Confederate artillery Line forward of the forest

"The blazing and defiant look of Jackson, his bold
and prompt determination, and the steady line of brave men that supported him,
gave new life to Bee. Galloping back to the disorganized masses of his command,
he shouted, waving his hand to the left: "Look! There is Jackson, standing
like a stone wall. Rally behind the Virginians! Let us determine to die here,
and we will conquer. Follow me!" Obedient to this clarion call to duty and
the example of soldierly bearing to which their attention had been called, a
number of Bee's men rallied and followed him in a charge to the left against the
advancing enemy, in which this heroic leader fell dead. From that time forward,
through all the ages of history, Jackson became, and will continue to be,
"Stonewall" Jackson, and his brigade the "Stonewall
brigade."

This is what a Stone Walls Eye View looks like

The enfilading battery - which was rushed and surprised by
confederates running up from the right. We thought there was plenty enough dead
ground for them to use - especially in the heat of battle

"McDowell, watching from the Sudley ridge slope the
wavering battle, followed up his attack by continuing to extend his right with
fresh bodies of infantry and artillery as they came forward from the rear, and
by so doing threatening to turn Beauregard's left. Some of the Federal guns were
pressed so boldly to the front that men from the Thirty-third Virginia sprang
forward and captured them, but they were soon retaken. To meet this threatened
blow on his left, Beauregard took the offensive and ordered a counterstroke from
his right to clean off the Henry plateau in his front. The commands of Bee,
Bartow, Evans and Hampton, the men who had so bravely and stubbornly held back
McDowell's advance in the early morning, now responded with spirit and speed,
striking the Federal left; Jackson, with strong and steady blows, pierced its
center, while Smith's Virginians and Gartrell's Georgians charged on its right.
This bold movement, sweeping over both infantry and artillery, entirely cleared
the plateau of Federal troops and captured the batteries of Ricketts and
Griffin."

This is the rebels eye view - the gun position is almost
invisible . With the prospect of being cannistered from close range, they would
have covered this ground pretty quickly.

Interested in the ACW, but daunted by the choice of books
available ? Want some recommendations? Visit my American Civil War bookshop,
with a limited pick of recommended books on the war. Visit the US
version or UK
version to start (or continue) your education.